BCIT is excited to celebrate the soft opening of the new Health Sciences Centre on the Burnaby Campus. With generous support from industry leaders and the philanthropic community, the INSPIRE Campaign raised $11.7 million towards the development of the state-of-the-art facility. The Province also provided an investment of $66.6-million into the project.
The Health Sciences Centre, standing at four-storeys and 111,460 square-feet, is a critical hub for providing transformative, applied education to current and future generations of healthcare students in BC. Come fall 2022, the integrated and comprehensive Centre is expected to welcome BCIT Health Sciences students into its learning spaces, as well as to support 32 programs.
“The Health Sciences Centre is a result of the collaborative support from our donors, alumni, government and industry partners, alongside the leadership from the INSPIRE Campaign Cabinet,” said Jackie Jacob, Executive Director, BCIT Foundation. “The dedication and investment by many are contributing to the building of a foundation for the future of healthcare in British Columbia.”
Students will have access to cutting-edge education practices taught by industry leaders with first-hand experience in their respective healthcare fields. As well, students will access sophisticated simulation spaces that replicate hospital workflows, and seven new collaborative project-based learning spaces. The enhanced technology and learning spaces break down traditional silos to foster interdisciplinary learning and better prepare students for a seamless transition into their clinical and work environment.
The Health Sciences Centre is the first building towards the reimagining of the BCIT Burnaby Campus as a place for the next generation of learning spaces, and the future of applied education.
“While the plan includes developing new buildings and infrastructure, it is so much more than that. It’s about building for the future,” said David Podmore, Chair, INSPIRE Campaign. “A future that will ensure BC’s next generation of healthcare students will have the leading-edge, in-demand skills they need to meet the unique challenges of our healthcare sector. A future that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of British Columbians. A future that puts people first.”
As technology is changing the workforce at an exponentially fast pace, it is important to continuously hone knowledge and skills to transform these new demands into opportunities. The INSPIRE Campaign is transforming the Burnaby Campus into a dynamic new learning environment where solutions to industry’s most urgent challenges are born, tested, and readied for the world. The new Health Sciences Centre is a prime example of such.
Reinforcing BCIT’s commitment to sustainable practices and standards, the Health Sciences Centre has sustainability embedded throughout. An efficient heating system is in place to redistribute heat around the building to minimize the need to generate new heat from the plant in the basement. As well, the underground parking space offers 60 Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers – making BCIT home to one of the largest EV charging centres for electric vehicles in Metro Vancouver.
“The new BCIT Health Sciences Centre is a critical investment in our ability to train, empower, and deliver the graduates the BC healthcare system needs,” said Kathy Kinloch, President, BCIT. “Within these innovative teaching and learnings spaces, BCIT faculty and staff will train the next generation of nurses, medical radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists, and more with the hands-on skills they need to care for our community’s most vulnerable citizens.”
See the Province of British Columbia’s news release on the new Health Sciences Centre.
About the INSPIRE Campaign
The INSPIRE Campaign is the largest fundraising initiative in BCIT’s 55-year history. Focused on raising funds for three pillars—Access and Inclusion, Teaching and Learning Innovation, and Campus Redevelopment—the Campaign is creating a new future at BCIT as a destination for applied learning. Through INSPIRE, BCIT Foundation is helping today’s students become tomorrow’s leaders and continues to receive strong philanthropic support from industry, alumni, and individuals who recognize the importance of BCIT to the economic prosperity of BC. Learn more about the INSPIRE Campaign, including ways to join in building a strong and impactful community of philanthropy.
So nice to see this long awaited Sciences Centre come to fruition! Congratulations All.